Schneider Electric Unveils AI Data Centre Cooling Platform as Demand Surges

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

Schneider Electric has launched a new range of cooling systems designed for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data centres, as operators race to manage soaring power densities and improve energy efficiency amid the rapid expansion of AI computing.

The global energy technology company on Thursday unveiled the Uniflair XCA series, comprising the Uniflair XCAC air-cooled and Uniflair XCAF free-cooling chillers. The systems are engineered for high-density, liquid-cooled data centres and combine oil-free centrifugal compressors with magnetic bearing technology and built-in variable-speed drives to improve energy performance and operational stability under varying thermal loads and ambient conditions.

The launch comes as AI workloads, graphics processing unit (GPU) clusters and liquid cooling architectures are reshaping data centre infrastructure, placing greater emphasis on cooling systems as a critical component of reliability, operational efficiency and cost management.

The Uniflair XCA platform includes six oil-free centrifugal chiller models with capacities ranging from 1,200 kilowatts to 2,500 kilowatts. Schneider Electric said the chillers use high-efficiency spray-type evaporators and ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants to improve thermal performance while reducing environmental impact.

Designed to operate with elevated water temperatures, the systems are intended for AI-optimised data centres where liquid cooling technologies are increasingly being deployed to manage heat generated by high-performance computing equipment.

“Energy efficiency, adaptability and reliability are essential components of liquid cooling systems for AI-optimized data centres, and we’ve designed the Uniflair XCA line with these most important design features at the forefront,” said Andrew Bradner, Senior Vice President of Cooling Business at Schneider Electric.
“With adaptable water operating temperatures and versatile deployment options, the XCA line features a system-level approach that gives operators scalability, enhanced performance and long-term peace of mind as data centre complexity continues to rise,” he added.

According to the company, the new platform is built around oil-free magnetic bearing centrifugal compressors that eliminate lubrication systems, reducing maintenance requirements, contamination risks and mechanical losses while improving efficiency by up to 25 per cent and lowering operating noise.

The cooling architecture combines spray evaporator technology with V-shaped microchannel coils to improve heat exchange efficiency while reducing refrigerant charge, material consumption and overall environmental footprint. The system also incorporates a redesigned heat rejection architecture featuring V-shaped coils and a new generation of large-diameter electronically commutated (EC) fans to enhance airflow, reduce acoustic impact and maintain stable performance in high ambient temperatures.

Schneider Electric said the free-cooling XCAF models can operate in temperatures ranging from minus 20 degrees Celsius to 52 degrees Celsius. In moderate climates, the company said the systems can deliver energy savings of up to 60 per cent compared with conventional mechanical cooling by extending free-cooling operation and reducing dependence on compressors.

The platform also offers multiple electrical, hydraulic, acoustic and performance configuration options, allowing operators to tailor installations to specific operational requirements while reducing long-term management costs.

For mission-critical facilities, Schneider Electric said the systems can restore full operating capacity within three minutes following a power outage, helping minimise service interruptions.

The company said sustainability was a key design consideration, with the platform fully aligned with the European Union’s F-Gas Regulation 2024/573 and using ultra-low GWP refrigerants as standard to support decarbonisation objectives.

In addition to hardware improvements, the Uniflair XCA incorporates software-based controls designed to optimise performance in real time. These include variable-speed pump algorithms supporting constant flow, constant temperature differential and constant head pressure modes, advanced fan modulation for low-noise operation, and integrated energy metering with real-time water flow measurement.

Schneider Electric said the software capabilities improve predictive efficiency, reduce compressor cycling and enhance overall system stability.

The company said the first Uniflair XCA units will begin shipping globally in June 2026, while availability in the United States is expected in early 2027.